Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Macedonia (hymn)

668 Macedonia

The vision of a dying world
   Is vast before our eyes;
   We feel the heartbeat of its need,
   We hear its feeble cries:
   Lord Jesus Christ, revive Thy Church
   In this, her crucial hour!
   Lord Jesus Christ, awake Thy Church
   With Spirit-given power.

The savage hugs his god of stone
   And fears descent of night;
   The city dweller cringes lone
   Amid the garish light:
   Lord Jesus Christ, arouse Thy Church
   To see their mute distress!
   Lord Jesus Christ, equip Thy Church
   With love and tenderness.

Today, as understanding’s bounds
   Are stretched on every hand,
   Oh, clothe Thy Word in bright, new sounds,
   And speed it o’er the land;
   Lord Jesus Christ, empower us
   To preach by every means!
   Lord Jesus Christ, embolden us
   In near and distant scenes.

The warning bell of judgment tolls,
   Above us looms the cross;
   Around are ever-dying souls—
   How great, how great the loss!
   O Lord, constrain and move Thy Church
   The glad news to impart!
   And Lord, as Thou dost stir Thy Church,
   Begin within my heart.
                         Anne Ortlund
                         Hymns for the Family of God

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